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Kagome followed but was getting uncomfortable when they'd been walking for a while and Sesshoumaru had yet to say anything. Just when she was about to rend the silence, Sesshoumaru finally spoke, as if anticipating her breaking point.

"Where are your belongings, miko?" He asked without even turning to look at her or pause in his stride.

"Back at our hut...with Inuyasha," she added the last part with a hint of loathing in her voice.

"What has my hanyou brother done to make you leave his presence?" He asked before he was able to think about what he said. Kagome was taken aback by his concern, or what she thought sounded like concern.

Kagome looked up at him, and then diverted her gaze to the ground instead. She was trying to put her reason in words that would not make her seem selfish with Inuyasha since they had never officially confessed love to one another—or, Kagome never confessed her love—it appeared that Inuyasha felt nothing for her.

"Nothing." She decided she didn't want to talk about it just yet, not wanting to break down in tears when the only shoulder to cry upon was Sesshoumaru's. She didn't want to appear weaker than he already thought she was.

"Fine. Your items are all I needed to be informed about. You may go back to camp now."

The way Sesshoumaru spoke reminded Kagome of the way he walked; steady, strong, unyielding. When she was about to turn and head back, she stopped abruptly in her path. She just saw something walk across her line of sight, now obscured in some bushes. Sesshoumaru slowly came to a halt as well and looked back at her. Kagome was staring, transfixed, at the place she had just seen the man.

"I saw something move over there; someone is here!" Kagome whispered just loud enough so only Sesshoumaru's demon-enhanced hearing could pick it up. He nodded knowingly; he had smelled the stench of a human male nearby about ten minutes ago though he didn't announce it. He walked a ways away, and from behind a cluster of trees he plucked a young man from his hiding spot, holding him by the back of his robes. Sesshoumaru held the claws of his other hand high above his head, ready to end the man's life when—

"Gods, Sesshoumaru, put him down!" Kagome didn't want to see anyone get cleaved in half today. Then she noticed his manner of dress.

"Miroku!" She exclaimed in shock, her heart leaping. She recognized the black and purple robes. Miroku lifted his head from its shelter beneath his arms to look at her.

"Kagome!" Miroku cried, relieved that his life wasn't at an end. He struggled under Sesshoumaru's hand which still had him hoisted up a few feet off the ground by the backs of his robe, looking very much like a kitten being held up by the skin on the back of his neck.

Sesshoumaru dropped the monk and he fairly sprinted to Kagome, tripping along the way. He enveloped her in his arms when he got to her, the enlarged sleeves of his robes shielding her against the cold night. Kagome unconsciously leant into the warmth of his embrace, thinking she'd never been so happy to see him.

"Oh, Kagome…you're safe! I was so worried!" He nuzzled his forehead in the crook of her neck.

Sesshoumaru found a sense of possessiveness towards the tiny miko emerge in his chest. Without thinking, he walked close beside her, placed a hand on her shoulder and jerked her backward, out of the monk's arms.

Kagome was unaware that she was hugging Miroku back fiercely—she was just so happy to see him. And the biggest surprise of all was that he didn't try anything that he usually would have. Not one grope to her backside.

Kagome looked up questioningly, more than a little alarmed. He, however, was looking at Miroku fixedly, nonetheless his hand dropped from her shoulder to his side.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. Why had he done that? It's not like he cared for the woman. He should not have cared if she was embracing the monk. He was confused, but rationed that since she was coming back to his home that he subconsciously felt that she belonged to him, like everything else in the castle. Sesshoumaru merely pushed it aside and walked toward camp. Kagome followed and, unfortunately, the monk did the same.

oOo

Ten minutes later the houshi was around a campfire with a sleeping little girl, a miko, a toad demon, a two-headed dragon, and a taiyoukai looking distinctly disgruntled at having yet another weak human in his party. He really didn't want the monk called Miroku in his group. But, if he said no, then the human woman would be upset about not having her friend, then Rin wouldn't be happy, and Rin was the most important person to him besides himself, of course.

And on top of all this, he still didn't have his bath.

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A/N: So Miroku's tagging along as well! Gosh, what is up with Inuyasha and Sango? Heehee we'll find out as the story continues ;)

This was another short chappie; a lot was cut out, but it's a necessary evil. Don't worry though, the chapters get much, much longer as we get into things.

I've been updating pretty quickly so far and I hope to keep it this way! As long as I feel like I have an audience, the story will keep unfolding!

Thank you all for your kind words, they mean a lot!

JA NE!